Mauk & O'Connor, LLP

Sara E. Mauk

Sara
E. Mauk is
a founding partner of the Law Offices of Mauk and O’Connor, LLP. After
graduating in 2004 from the College of Law, DePaul University, Ms. Mauk worked
at a law firm specializing in special education law. From 1987-99, Ms.
Mauk was a volunteer advocate for approximately 50 foster children concerning
special education services, primarily involving the Chicago Public
Schools. In addition, from 1999-2004, Ms. Mauk worked as a legal
assistant at the Law Office of Michael A. O’Connor where she assisted in the
representation of approximately 200 parents in special education matters
including approximately 75 cases involving Due Process Hearings, mediation, IEP
meetings, and federal litigation.

While
attending DePaul’s College of Law, she participated in the Disability Rights
Clinic that focuses primarily on accessibility issues under The Americans with
Disability Act (ADA) for four semesters. In addition to the disability
clinic, for two years, Ms. Mauk was research assistant to Professor Mark Weber,
author of the Special Education Law and Education Treatise. While
at DePaul, Ms. Mauk was awarded the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for
the highest grades in Civil Litigation Strategy, Children and the Law Senior
Research, and Juvenile Justice courses.

Ms.
Mauk has presented advocacy trainings at the 2002 National Foster Family
Treatment Association conference, Illinois International Dyslexia Association
Fall conference, Chicago CHADD, Chicago Public Schools, Designs for Change,
Child Serve Family Support Services, and Voices for Illinois Children, Equip
for Equality, Illinois Institute for Continuing Education, Cook County
Probation Office. Ms. Mauk has served on the boards of the Family
Resource Center and the Illinois Branch of the International Dyslexia
Association.

She
is currently a member of the, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
(COPAA), Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
(CHADD), Learning Disability Association (LDA) and the International Dyslexia
Association (IDA). For over ten year, Ms. Mauk has been an active
participant on the Illinois Attorney General’s Advisory Council on Disability
Rights Special Education Committee. The Committee is a group of professionals
that includes both parent advocates and school representatives.The Committee meets monthly to discuss and
identify current issues in special education. She is currently co-chairing the
Due Process subcommittee which has provided to Illinois State Board of
Education (ISBE) comments on the draft hearing officer manual.